Pump type bailer



July 18, 1939.

U l I... n I M lil A MWWWQ.. n.

P. G. GATES PUMP TYPE BAILER Filed June l, 1957 vzo Patented 18, 1939 UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE v zusam PUMP TYPE 'mman Paul G. este, Long umh, calli.

Application :uns 1, issu, sensi No. 145,199 14 claims. (ci. 16s- 19) This invention relates to improvements in pump type-boilers and may be considered as an improvement over the form of construction dis-I closed in my copending application Serial No.

6 98,889, ledseptember l, 1936.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved form of pump type baiier wherein the construction is somewhat simpliied and .wherein parts may be made from conventional devices now on the, market. The improved construction is not only simplied but the number oi' parts is somewhat reduced, facilitating manufacture and contributing to the durability of the`bailer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which win facilitatethe empty,-

ing or unloading of the bailer wherein precautions are taken to increase the safety with which the tool may be emptied or unloaded when it has been recovered from a well.

With'the ioregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, and speciiically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to 'the accompanying drawing for an illustrative em' bodiment ofthe invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through one form of the improved bailer illustrating the bailer in that position wherein it is suspended and is being lowered into a well;

2 is a view similar to Fig. l, illustrating the position of the bailer after it has landed at the bottom of the well;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through an alternativ `form of bailer embodying the invention;

Fig. V4 is a sectional view through the device which may be employed to facilitate unloading or emptying of the bailer; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line i-S upon Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the formas illustrated in F188. 1 and2 consists or an upper chamber constituting an air chamber III which may be formed 7, of sections of pipe and subs I I and i2, respectively. The top of the air chamber is closed by a cap I3 which may be provided with a suitable construction for connection of the-bailer with a. sand line. Suitably located in a wall of the air i chamber is a relief valve vI4 which is outwardly opening so as to-enable the escape or relief of `excess pressures in the air chamber when the bailer is withdrawn from the bottom of a well,- The bottom o! the air chamber is provided with a cap II having lateral. ports I1, and through `from ports 29 down to the beveled seat 3l.

which extends a tube I8. The bottom of the cap I6 ts snugly around the tube but from the ports II upwardly there is formed a clearance I3 which provides a passage from seatv 20 down to ports il. On the top of the tube there is provided t cap 2i having a seat 22 adapted to engage seat 2U. This cap ,has lateral ports 23 and its top surface is adapted to engage the bottom of sub I2.

In the preferred forml oi construction -oomf yplementary seats 24 and 25 are formed on the l0 sub and cap, respectively. The sides of the cap above apertures 23 may t the interior of the air chamber and vertical slots or openings 26 are formed in the sides of the cap to enable passage of iluid from tubeIB up through sub I2 into the air chamber.

Tube i8 is designed to suspend an entrapping chamber 21 which may be formed of pipe, the

l top of which is closed by a cap 28 which may be a counterpart of cap I6.v Cap 28 has its top 20 snugly tting around tube I8 and has lateral ports 29 with a clearance 30 around the tube The tube i8 is provided withv a beveled shoulder 32 -adapted to engage the beveled seat 3 I. Below the 25 shoulder 32 the tube I3 carries a swab 33 and while the construction of the swab may vary, I prefer to use in this form of construction that type of swab generally known on the'market as a Guiberson swab. Ihis swab forms aplunger 3c mounted on the bottom of the vtube .which is reciprocable within the entrapping chamber or sand chamebr 3i. The bottom of ,the sand or entrapping chamber 2l is provided with an entrapping valve seat 3l on`whichis m unted an entrapplng 35 valve 35. Around this seat there is rotatably disposed a sleeve 3B. Ports are formed in'the body of the entrapping valve'seat and in the sleeve 38 so that upon rotation of the sleeve, these ports can be aligned above valve 35 to 40 empty the entrapping chamber. The sleeve preferably carries shoe g,3l which has vertical slots 3G formed on its interior.

The operation of this form of bailer is as follows: When the bailer is suspended and is lowered into a well, the entrapping chamber and the air chamber are both initially filled with air. As the bailer descends into the liquid in a. well, the external hydrostatic pressure causes fluid to -enterthe entrappingv chamber il'Il past valve 35, 50

compressing the air and forcing the compressed air to collect in the top of air chamber I0. When the shoe 31 encounters an obstruction in the well or lands at the bottom of 'the' well, downward movement of the entrapping chamber 21.55y

is arrested. As the downwardly exposed surface of swab 33 is greater than the upwardly exposed surface of shoulder 32, the tube I8 will ten'd to temporarily .remain in the uppermost position shown in Fig. 1. The air chamber I0 telescopes downwardly with'respect to tube I8 with the re-l sult that seat 22 on cap 2| disengages seaty 20. This opens the interiorof tube I8 through ports 23, clearance I9, and ports I1 to the exterior o f the bailer. Continued dfrlvnward movement of the air chamber causes the tube I8 to be forced downwardly and liquid that has entered the entrapping chamberi21 during the descent of the bailer can thus escape through the outlet from the top of the entrapping chamber thus opened. When the cap ZI'engages the sub I2 the tube I3 is forced downwardly and the swab 33 starts on its initial downward stroke in the sand chamber during which stroke the liquid in the sand chamber 21 may pass up above the plunger into the space in the top of the entrapping or sand chamber which is around tube I8 to be expelled on the succeeding upward stroke through the outlet afforded by passages 23 and 30.. Liquid may freely enter the top of the sand chamber above the swab throughports 29 so that there isno tendencyfor any vacuum to form abovethelswab during its downward strokes.

At the ond of the downward stroke' of the swab the air chamber I0 is lifted which causes seats. 22 and 20 to engage, closing the outlet previously afforded by ports I1. During the upward stroke of the swab 33 liquid and debris or sand in the well is induced to enter the sand chamber past the entrapping valve 35. Continued up and down strokes may be imparted to the swab 33 until the operator is convinced that the sand chamber has been fully loaded. l

It will be noted that there is a limited telescopic connection formed between the air chamber Il) and the top of the tube I8. This limited connection forms a type of. jar which may be used to loosen the sand chamber 21 if the sand chamber had become stuck or badly embedded in the sand at the bottom of the well. bailer is withdrawn from the well it assumes the position as shown in Fig. lwherein all outlets -from the sand chamber and the air chamber to the exterior of the bailer are closed with the exception of the relief valve I4. As the bailer approaches the surface the hydrostatic pressure 'entrapped withiny the bailer becoming greatly in excess of the surface pressure, there is some escape past the relief valve I4 reducing the entrapped pressure to 'only the pressure required to unload the bailer.

The device illustrated in Fig. 4 is designed to facilitate and safeguard unloading of the bailer. It consists of a tube 39 having a base 40 which may be secured to the derrick floor. In the bottom of this tube there are formed apertures or ports 4I through which any sand that may collect in the bottom of the tube may be washed out. This tube has a plurality of vertical slots 42 formed therein adapted to receive the arms 43 and 44 of a key 45. This key is designed to enter the slots 38 formed in the shoe 31. It .is urged into uppermost position -by means of a spring 46. In the wall of the tube there is formed a port 41 adapted to be aligned with the ports formed in sleeve 36 and in the seat for the entrapping valve 35 when these ports are aligned.

On recovering thembailer from the well its lower end is inserted in tube 39 and is lowered into engagement lwith the k'ey 45 which cushions thi! When the.

bottom of the bailer. 'I'he bailer can be rotated until key enters the slots 38 in which position the aperture or port in the entrapping valve seat is disposed in registration with port 41. When key 45 has engaged in slots 38 the bailer is 'then rotated relatively to the sleeve to align and open ports 36a so that the retained pressure that has not been entirely 'released by relief valve I4 may be utilized to expel the liquid and solid contents of the entrapping chamber 21. As the retained pressure is sufcient to discharge the contents with considerable velocity there is frequently a reactionary force of considerable'magnitude set up on the bailer and where no holder or guide is used such as illustrated in Fig. 4, this reactionary force developed sometimes causes the bailer to get out of control. However, with the bottom of the bailer disposed in the device illus-4 trated in Fig. 4 the bailer can be kept-under control in spiteof these reactionary forces.

' Ihe purpose of having a large number of circumferentially arranged slots 42 is to enable the key 45 to be rotationally adjusted within tube 33 with relation to port 41. By tipping the key 45 its arms 43 and 44 can be withdrawn from any pair of diametrically opposed slots and selectively lintroduced into any-other pair of'slots. The purpose of being able to rotationally adjust the key is to enable the key to accommodate itself to whatever position is required when it engages slotsv 38vso that port 36a in' the sleeve will be in registration with ports 41. As the shoe31 is threadedly connected to sleeve 35, on tightening up the shoe the position of slot 38 with respect to port 35a in thesleeve cannot be accurately anticipated. Consequently,. rotational adjustment of key 45 compensates for this enabling port 36a in sleeve 36 to register with port 41 when the key and slots are in engagement. l

While I have illustrated the bailer as being equipped` with a cylindrical shoe as shown,

slotted at 33 for the reception of key 45, it will be understood that other forms of shoes on bailer bottoms may be employed. For example, if a chisel-shaped shoe or bailer bottom is used, the construction or shape of key 45 -is altered to lit and receive the chisel point. 'I'heqkey not only serves to properly position port,36d`in the sleeve in alignment with port 41 but holds the sleeve while the bailer is being rotated relatively to it to open the ports 38a.

i In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the general construction and formation of the sand'or entrapping chamber is substantially the same as the cap. Tube 53 carries a swab of the 4type now ,generally known on the market as a Mission swab. The details of construction of that form of swab forms no part of the present invention but .by way of explanation, this type of swab is longitudinally divided into two parts 53 and 83. Part 53 is rigid with respect to tube 53 whereas part 53 is longitudinally slidable relatively thereto. The conventional Mission swab has the two parts 59 and AGII mounted on' a'solid body. If

the body is used along with the parts 58 and 83 the body should be drilled so as to form a hollow thereto.

vcontinuation of tube 5s. on tho other hand 'I prefer to make the tubef53 o f such a form as to provide the body on which parts 59 and 60 can be mounted and to apply these parts of the swab In either form there is a continuous passage formed which establishes constant communication between the entrapping chamber '50 and the upper. chamber 5I. During downward strokes of the swab the slidable part 60 slides into the upper position shown enabling fluid in the entrapping` chamber to pass up between the parts of the swab. On up strokes, part o'ccupies a position horizontally opposite part 59 and the swab` then actsas a plunger or piston expelling the fluid from the top of the entrapping chamber through ports 55 and at the same time inducing an inward flow through the bottom of the entrapping chamber past the entrapping valve therein.

When the bailer is pulled from the well, shoulder 51 seats on seat 58 .closing the outlet from the top of the entrapping chamber. Chamber 5I may constitute an air chamber wherein the top of the chamber is closed and the air therein retained at hydrostatic pressure except for the pressure released through relief valve 52.

As an alternative construction, instead of using chamber 5i as an air chamber to retain air under pressure to be utilized for dumping, a valve seat 6I may be. formed in the top of the chamber and a stem 62 is provided attached to the bail 53. Thisstem has a beveled shoulder 64 adapted to seat upon seat 6I. On pumping strokes of the bailer the valve thus formed in the top of chamber 5I may open and close. However, When the bailer is withdrawn from the well the valve closes but the air which was initially in chamber 5l has been expelled and replaced by liquid. On reaching the surface excess pressure is released by relief valve 52. When the bailer is opened at the surface the column of liquid inside of the bailer develops a suiicient hydrostatic head to expel the contents'of the sand chamber. Of course, if the hydrostatic head of liquid in the chamber 5l is thought to be insuiiicient to expel the load in the entrapping or sand chamber, valve 64 can be keptclosed so as to retain all of the .hydrostatic pressure in chamber 5i which is not released by relief valve 52. In that event the liquid which is in the chamber `5i is-maintained at a pressure above that created by the weight of the liquid and as the liquid usually has gas incorporated init the gas which tends to separate and collect vin the top of the chamber 5I is also eiective at this retained pressure to expel `the liquid and solid content of the bailer. The valve in the top of chamber 5| opens to allow air to enter this chamber breaking any vacuum tending to form therein and allowing this column of liquid in the bailer to wash out the contents of the sand chamber.

In all of the above forms of construction it will be appreciated that while the bailer is open at both ends during pumping .so as to. enable iluid and debris to be drawn into the sand chamber and expelled from the top thereof in loading the bailer when the bailer is withdrawn from the well itis closed so that the retained hydrostatic pressure keeps the parts of the bailer expanded or extended. Then when the bailer is opened any retained pressure may be utilized to facilitate dumping or emptying the bailer.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the pressure of the column of liquid in the bailer alone may be sum- 1mentupon the tube.

mounted for limited telescoping movement'pon limits in the air chamber, there being anoutlet cient to expel the contents of the sand chamber.

It will also be noted that in these forms of bailers a type of jar is incorporated in the bailer construction itself so that in the event that'the sand chamber -becomes embedded it is possiblev 5 on reciprocation of the air chamber .toeiectivly jar it loose.

Various changes may be made in the details of O construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by theap- 10 pended claims.

I claim:

1. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber having an entrapping'valve at its bottom, means providing-a 15 plunger reciprocable in the top of the .entrapping chamber, a tube extending into thei top o f lthe entrapping chamber on which the plunger -is mounted, and means by which the tube maybe' suspended, mounted for limited telescoping movego 2. A pump `type ,bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber having an entrapping valve at its bottom, means providing a plunger reciprocable in the top of the entrapping g5 chamber, a tube extending into the top oi the mounted, and means. providing an air .chamber the tube.

3. A pump type baileil comprising means pto# viding an air chamber, means providing an entrapping chamber, a tube connecting the cham,

bers, va cap on the tube reciprocable between Il from the entrapping chamber openable b'ynsaidf cap and adapted to be closed thereby' vvh'errthe bailer is suspended and a plunger on said tube reciprocable within the entrapping chamber.

4. -A pump type bailer comprisingmeans. pro. viding an` entrappirig chambenafsingle tube 're-g ciprocable in the top ofthe entrapping'- chamber, a plunger on the tube disposed Withiri' thel entrapping chamber, there being 'an outlet from the top of the entrapping chamber, said plunger being so constructed that on 'downward strokes fluid in the entrapping chamber may` passircm" below the plunger to above the plunger. into. the space around said tube and upon upward strokes the uid above the plunger may'- be expelled through the outlet andadditional. uid .drawn into the entrapping chamber, and means'for, closingsaid outlet against egress from theventrapping chamber.

5. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber, asingle tube reciprocable in the top of theentrapped chamber. a plunger on the tube disposed within the entrapping chamber, there being an outlet from the top of the entrapping chamber, said plunger being so constructed that on downward strokes fluid in the entrapping chamber may pass from below the plunger to above the plunger Ainto the space aroundaid tube and upon upward strokes the fluid above the plunger may be expelled through the outlet and additional fluid drawn into the entrapping chamber, and means fox-.closing said outlet vagainst vegress from the entrapping chamber, said means b eing asociated with the tube.

6. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber,'a single tube reciprocable in the top of the entrapping chamber, a plunger on the tube disposed within the entrapping chamber, there being an outletfrom the top of the entrapping chamber, said plunger being so constructed that on downward strokes fluid in the entrapping chamber may pass from below -chamber may be loaded, tubular means on which,

the plunger to above the plunger into the space around said tube and upon upward strokes the iiuid above the plunger may be expelled through the outlet and additional iiuid drawn into the entrapping chamber, and means for closing said outlet against egress from the entrapping chamber, and means for optionally opening and closing the top of the tube whereby-upon closing the tube a portionat least of the hydrostatic pressure may be retained therein to be utilized to unload the entrapping chamber.

7. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber having an entrapping valve adjacent its bottom, a plunger recip- Yrocabie therein so constructed as to permit upiiow therepast upon downward strokes but to prevent downward ilow therepast upon upward strokes, there being an outlet adjacent the top of the entrapping chamber through which fluid may be expelled by the plunger on upward strokes whereby on reciprocation of the plunger the entrapping chamber may be loaded, means extending through the top of the entrapping chamber by which the plunger may be reciprocated, and means carried by said means above the plunger for closing said outlet to prevent egress therethrough from the entrapping chamber.

8. A pump type bailer comprising -means providing an entrapping chamber having an entrapping valve adjacent its bottom, a plunger recip- --rocable therein, so designed as to permit upward ilow therepast upon downward strokes but to prevent downward flow therepast upon upward strokes, there being an outlet in the top of the entrapping chamber through which tluid may be expelled by the plunger on upward strokes whereby on reciprocation of the plunger, the entrapping chamber-.may be loaded, tubular means on which the plunger is mounted, and valve means above the plunger carried by the tubular means adapted to close the outlet against egress from the entrapping chamber. 9. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber, a plunger reciprocable therein, so designed as to permit upward ow therepast upon downward strokes but to prevent downward flow therepast upon upward strokes, there being an outlet in the top of the entrapping chamber through which uid may be expelled by the plunger on upward strokes whereby on reciprocation of the plunger, the entrapping chamber may be loaded, tubular means on which the plunger is mounted, and valve means carried by the tubular means adapted toc close the outlet against egress from the entrapping chamber, and means by which the bailer maybe suspended for closing the top of the tubular means when the bailer is suspended and opening the tubular means when the bailer is supported.

10. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber, a plunger reciprocable therein, so designed as'to permit upward flow therepast upon downward strokes but to prevent downward tlow therepast upon upward strokes, there being an outlet `in the top of the entrapping chamber through which iluid may be expelled by the plunger on upward strokes whereby on reciprocation of the plunger the entrapping the plunger is mounted, valve means carried by the tubularv means adapted to close the outlet againstegre'ss from the entrapping chamber, and

' means for. optionally opening and closing the top downward ow therepast upon upward strokes,\

there being an outlet in the top of the entrapping chamber through which iluid may be expelled by the plunger on upward strokes whereby on reciprocation of the plung'er the entrapping chamber may be loaded, means extending through the topof the entrapping chamber by which the 'plunger may be reclprocated, and means carried by said means above the plunger adapted to seat in the outlet for closing the outlet against egress.

12. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber, a plunger reciprocable therein so constructed as to permit upow therepast upon downward strokes vbut to prevent downward ilow therepast upon upward -strokes, there being an outlet in the top of the entrapping chamber through which uid may be expelled by the plunger on upward strokes whereby on reciprocation of the plunger the entrapping chamber may be loaded, means extending through the top of the .entrapping chamber by which the plunger'may be reciprocated, means above the plunger operable by the plunger reciprocating means for closing the outlet against egress from the entrapping chamber, and means providing an air or gas chamber in which air or gas may be retained under at least a part of the hydrostatic pressure to be utilized to unload the bailer.

`13. A pump type bailer comprising'means providing an entrapping chamber having an entrapa ping valve, tubular means reciprocable in the top of the entrapping chamber adapted upon reciprocation to induce upward flow through the entrapping chambenand valve means in the tubular means for opening and closing the tubular .means by which the bailer may be suspended,

said valve means being adapted to open when the bailer is supported and upon downward strokes 'of the tubular means and to close upon the tubular means being lifted thereby so as to entrap at least a portion of the pressurel at the depth to which the bailer iS .loweredso that the entrapped pressure may be utilized to assist in unloading the bailer.

14. A pump type bailer comprising means providing an entrapping chamber having an entrapping valve, tubular means reciprocable inthe top of the entrapping chamber adapted upon reciprocation to induce upward :dow throughl the entrapping chamber, and valve `means in the tubular means by which the tubular means may be lifted and reciprocated, said valve means being adapted to close the tubular means against es cape oi pr'essure therethrough when lifted so as to entrapfat least a portion of the pressure at the depth to which the bailer is lowered so that the entrapped pressure may be utilized to assist in unloading the bailer.

PAUL G. GATES. 

